sk.thetalisman-第17节

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epartures　emotionlessly。　In　the　end　he　went　to　the　telephone　pad　printed　with　a　drawing　of　the　hotel　on　eggshell…thin　paper；　and　with　the　Alhambra's　blunt　narrow　pencil　wrote　the　three　lines　that　were　most　of　what　he　had　to　say：
　　
　　Thanks
　　I　love　you
　　and　will　be　back
　　　
　　　4
　　
　　Jack　moved　down　Boardwalk　Avenue　in　the　thin　northern　sun；　wondering　where　he　should　。　。　。　flip。　That　was　the　word　for　it。　And　should　he　see　Speedy　once　more　before　he　'flipped'　into　the　Territories？　He　almost　had　to　talk　to　Speedy　once　more；　because　he　knew　so　little　about　where　he　was　going；　whom　he　might　meet；　what　he　was　looking　for　she　look　just　like　a　crystal　ball。　Was　that　all　the　instruction　Speedy　intended　to　give　him　about　the　Talisman？　That；　and　the　warning　not　to　drop　it？　Jack　felt　almost　sick　with　lack　of　preparation…as　if　he　had　to　take　a　final　exam　in　a　course　he'd　never　attended。
　　He　also　felt　that　he　could　flip　right　where　he　stood；　he　was　that　impatient　to　begin；　to　get　started；　to　move。　He　had　to　be　in　the　Territories　again；　he　suddenly　understood；　in　the　welter　of　his　emotions　and　longings；　that　thread　brightly　shone。　He　wanted　to　breathe　that　air；　he　hungered　for　it。　The　Territories；　the　long　plains　and　ranges　of　low　mountains；　called　him；　the　fields　of　tall　grass　and　the　streams　that　flashed　through　them。　Jack's　entire　body　yearned　for　that　landscape。　And　he　might　have　taken　the　bottle　out　of　his　pocket　and　forced　a　mouthful　of　the　awful　juice　down　his　throat　on　the　spot　if　he　had　not　just　then　seen　the　bottle's　former　owner　tucked　up　against　a　tree；　butt　on　heels　and　hands　laced　across　his　knees。　A　brown　grocery　bag　lay　beside　him；　and　atop　the　bag　was　an　enormous　sandwich　of　what　looked　like　liver　sausage　and　onion。
　　'You're　movin　now；'　Speedy　said；　smiling　up　at　him。　'You're　on　your　way；　I　see。　Say　your　goodbyes？　Your　momma　know　you　won't　be　home　for　a　while？'　
　　Jack　nodded；　and　Speedy　held　up　the　sandwich。　'You　hungry？　This　one；　it's　too　much　for　me。'
　　'I　had　something　to　eat；'　the　boy　said。　'I'm　glad　I　can　say　goodbye　to　you。'
　　'Ole　Jack　on　fire；　he　rarin　to　go；'　Speedy　said；　cocking　his　long　head　sideways。　'Boy　gonna　move。'
　　'Speedy？'
　　'But　don't　take　off　without　a　few　little　things　I　brought　for　you。　I　got　em　here　in　this　bag；　you　wanna　see？'
　　'Speedy？'　The　man　squinted　up　at　Jack　from　the　base　of　the　tree。
　　'Did　you　know　that　my　father　used　to　call　me　Travelling　Jack？'
　　'Oh；　I　probably　heard　that　somewhere；'　Speedy　said；　grinning　at　him。　'e　over　here　and　see　what　I　brought　you。　Plus；　I　have　to　tell　you　where　to　go　first；　don't　I？'　
　　Relieved；　Jack　walked　across　the　sidewalk　to　Speedy's　tree。　The　old　man　set　his　sandwich　in　his　lap　and　fished　the　bag　closer　to　him。　'Merry　Christmas；'　Speedy　said；　and　brought　forth　a　tall；　battered　old　paperback　book。　It　was；　Jack　saw；　an　old　Rand　McNally　road　atlas。
　　'Thanks；'　Jack　said；　taking　the　book　from　Speedy's　outstretched　hand。
　　'Ain't　no　maps　over　there；　so　you　stick　as　much　as　you　can　to　the　roads　in　ole　Rand　McNally。　That　way　you'll　get　where　you're　goin。'
　　'Okay；'　Jack　said；　and　slipped　out　of　the　knapsack　so　that　he　could　slide　the　big　book　down　inside　it。
　　'The　next　thing　don't　have　to　go　in　that　fancy　rig　you　carryin　on　your　back；'　Speedy　said。　He　put　the　sandwich　on　the　flat　paper　bag　and　stood　up　all　in　one　long　smooth　motion。　'No；　you　can　carry　this　right　in　your　pocket。'　He　dipped　his　fingers　into　the　left　pocket　of　his　workshirt。　What　emerged；　clamped　between　his　second　and　third　fingers　like　one　of　Lily's　Tarrytoons；　was　a　white　triangular　object　it　took　the　boy　a　moment　to　recognize　as　a　guitar…pick。　'You　take　this　and　keep　it。　You'll　want　to　show　it　to　a　man。　He'll　help　you。'　
　　Jack　turned　the　pick　over　in　his　fingers。　He　had　never　seen　one　like　it…of　ivory；　with　scrimshaw　filigrees　and　patterns　winding　around　it　in　slanted　lines　like　some　kind　of　unearthly　writing。　Beautiful　in　the　abstract；　it　was　almost　too　heavy　to　be　a　useful　fingerpick。
　　'Who's　the　man？'　Jack　asked。　He　slipped　the　pick　into　one　of　his　pants　pockets。
　　'Big　scar　on　his　face…you'll　see　him　pretty　soon　after　you　land　in　the　Territories。　He's　a　guard。　Fact　is；　he's　a　Captain　of　the　Outer　Guards；　and　he'll　take　you　to　a　place　where　you　can　see　a　lady　you　has　to　see。　Well；　a　lady　you　ought　to　see。　So　you　know　the　other　reason　you're　puttin　your　neck　on　the　line。　My　friend　over　there；　he'll　understand　what　you're　doin　and　he'll　figure　out　a　way　to　get　you　to　the　lady。'
　　'This　lady　。　。　。　'　Jack　began。
　　'Yep；'　Speedy　said。　'You　got　it。'
　　'She's　the　Queen。'
　　'You　take　a　good　look　at　her；　Jack。　You　see　what　you　see　when　you　sees　her。　You　see　what　she　is；　understand？　Then　you　hit　out　for　the　west。'　Speedy　stood　examining　him　gravely；　almost　as　if　he　were　just　now　doubting　that　he'd　ever　see　Jack　Sawyer　again；　and　then　the　lines　in　his　face　twitched　and　he　said；　'Steer　clear　of　ole　Bloat。　Watch　for　his　trail…his　own　and　his　Twinner's。　Ole　Bloat　can　find　out　where　you　went　if　you're　not　careful；　and　if　he　finds　out　he's　gonna　be　after　you　like　a　fox　after　a　goose。'　Speedy　shoved　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　regarded　Jack　again；　looking　very　much　as　though　he　wished　he　could　think　of　more　to　say。　'Get　the　Talisman；　son；'　he　concluded。　'Get　it　and　bring　it　back　safe。　It　gonna　be　your　burden　but　you　got　to　be　bigger　than　your　burden。'　
　　Jack　was　concentrating　so　hard　on　what　Speedy　was　telling　him　that　he　squinted　into　the　man's　seamed　face。　Scarred　man；　Captain　of　the　Outer　Guards。　The　Queen。　Morgan　Sloat；　after　him　like　a　predator。　In　an　evil　place　over　on　the　other　side　of　the　country。　A　burden。　'Okay；'　he　said；　wishing　suddenly　that　he　were　back　in　the　Tea　and　Jam　Shoppe　with　his　mother。
　　Speedy　smiled　jaggedly；　warmly。　'Yeah…bob。　Ole　Travellin　Jack　is　okey…doke。'　The　smile　deepened。　'Bout　time　for　you　to　sip　at　that　special　juice；　wouldn't　you　say？'
　　'I　guess　it　is；'　Jack　said。　He　tugged　the　dark　bottle　out　of　his　hip　pocket　and　unscrewed　the　cap。　He　looked　back　up　at　Speedy；　whose　pale　eyes　stabbed　into　his　own。
　　'Speedy'll　help　you　when　he　can。'
　　Jack　nodded；　blinked；　and　raised　the　neck　of　the　bottle　to　his　mouth。　The　sweetly　rotten　odor　which　leaped　out　of　the　bottle　nearly　made　his　throat　close　itself　in　an　involuntary　spasm。　He　tipped　the　bottle　up　and　the　taste　of　the　odor　invaded　his　mouth。　His　stomach　clenched。　He　swallowed；　and　rough；　burning　liquid　spilled　down　his　throat。
　　Long　seconds　before　Jack　opened　his　eyes；　he　knew　from　the　richness　and　clarity　of　the　smells　about　him　that　he　had　flipped　into　the　Territories。　Horses；　grass；　a　dizzying　scent　of　raw　meat；　dust；　the　clear　air　itself。
　　
　　　INTERLUDE
　　
　　Sloat　in　This　World　（I）
　　
　　'I　know　I　work　too　hard；'　Morgan　Sloat　told　his　son　Richard　that　evening。　They　were　speaking　on　the　telephone；　Richard　standing　at　the　munal　telephone　in　the　downstairs　corridor　of　his　dormitory；　his　father　sitting　at　his　desk　on　the　top　floor　of　one　of　Sawyer　&　Sloat's　first　and　sweetest　real…estate　deals　in　Beverly　Hills。　'But　I　tell　you　kid；　there　are　a　lot　of　times　when　you　have　to　do　something　yourself　to　get　it　done　right。　Especially　when　my　late　partner's　family　is　involved。　It's　just　a　short　trip；　I　hope。　Probably　I'll　get　everything　nailed　down　out　there　in　goddam　New　Hampshire　in　less　than　a　week。　I'll　give　you　another　call　when　it's　all　over。　Maybe　we'll　go　railroading　in　California；　just　like　the　old　days。　There'll　be　justice　yet。　Trust　your　old　man。'
　　The　deal　for　the　building　had　been　particularly　sweet　because　of　Sloat's　willingness　to　do　things　himself。　After　he　and　Sawyer　had　negotiated　the　purchase　of　a　short…term　lease；　then　（after　a　gunfire　of　lawsuits）　a　long…term　lease；　they　had　fixed　their　rental　rates　at　so　much　per　square　foot；　done　the　necessary　alterations；　and　advertised　for　new　tenants。　The　only　holdover　tenant　was　the　Chinese　restaurant　on　the　ground　floor；　dribbling　in　rent　at　about　a　third　of　what　the　space　was　worth。　Sloat　had　tried　reasonable　discussions　with　the　Chinese；　but　when　they　saw　that　he　was　trying　to　talk　them　into　paying　more　rent；　they　suddenly　lost　the　ability　to　speak　or　understand　English。　Sloat's　attempts　at　negotiation　limped　along　for　a　few　days；　and　then　he　happened　to　see　one　of　the　kitchen　help　carrying　a　bucket　of　grease　out　through　the　back　door　of　the　kitchen。　Feeling　better　already；　Sloat　followed　the　man　into　a　dark；　narrow　cul…de…sac　and　watched　him　tip　the　grease　into　a　garbage　can。　He　needed　no　more　than　that。　A　day　later；　a　chain…link　fence　separated　the　cul…de…sac　from　the　restaurant；　yet　another　day　later；　a　Health　Department　inspector　served　the　Chinese　with　a　plaint　and　a　summons。　Now　the　kitchen　help　had　to　take　all　their　refuse；　grease　included；　out　through　the　dining　area　and　down　a　chain…link　dog　run　Sloat　had　constructed　alongside　the　restaurant。　Business　fell　off：　the　customers　caught　odd；　unpleasant　odors　from　the　nearby　garbage。　The　owners　rediscovered　the　English　language；　and　volunteered　to　double　their　monthly　payment。　Sloat　responded　with　a　grateful…sounding　speech　that　said　nothing。　And　that　night；　having　primed　himself　with　three　large　ma